Red Bay, Alabama:

I want to share with you some thoughts about how friendly & helpful RV'ers can be with fellow travelers. However before I do, look at the picture to the left and you can see where this driver broke through the guardrail, on the right side of the culvert, where the people are standing on the road, pointing.

The pick-up was traveling about 75 mph from right to left when it crashed through the guardrail.

It flipped end-over-end, bounced off of and across the culvert outlet and landed right side up on the left side of the culvert, facing the opposite direction from which it was originally traveling.

The 22 year old drivers and his 18 year old passenger were unhurt except for minor cuts and bruises.

This occurred just outside Flagstaff, AZ, on US Hwy 100. I did not take the pictures although MLA and I have traveled on this road. Below another photograph of the same incident that shows the 'big picture'. You'll see clearly why MLA & I traveled this road significantly slower than this driver....

Back to the discussion of helpful RV'ers... RV'ers are in fact a friendly group of people, willing to help out whenever possible (and talkative; sometimes it's hard to end a conversation with them but that's a different story).

Over the past 10 months of travelling we have had people offer to help us on numerous occasions. And it's not just the 'confused dumb look' that resides on my face on a regular basis.

Even though I know RV'ers are very willing to help I'm always a little reluctant to knock on some one's RV door and ask for help. It's just not that easy. Besides, you need to know which of the RV's contain an individual who actually knows something about whatever subject you want help with... easier said than done.

Randomly knocking on doors almost guarantees I will find someone who knows even less about the subject I need help with than I do... hard to believe but true.

So over the last year I have learned to use a few 'props' to draw out the expertise I am looking for... sometimes dispensed in a way that even I can understand.

When on the side of the road or in a campground, one tried and true method (for me) is to open the hood/compartment where the trouble/noise/smoke is located and stand there with your hands on your hips, slowly shaking your head. Don't know why this works so well but it does. Attracts well meaning RV'ers like sugar water attracts Hummingbirds. Before you know it you have at least a small crowd. Actually, you will have a large crowd if there's smoke involved. Doesn't matter if it's from your campfire or your grill, smoke always draws 'em in big time.

Sometimes you don't even need to 'do' anything, just pull your RV over to the side of the road.

Once Mary Lynn and I were looking for a specific campground. The guidebook had been very specific about where the entrance would be located. We arrived at that point and nothing. Not only no campground entrance there was no road, no trail, not even a gap in the bushes. Not a thing. We pulled over and started scanning the road ahead with binoculars looking for some indication of, if not a campground entrance, at least some indication that other RV's had once traversed this area.

Mind you, we were inside the RV, sitting in our seats, simply looking around.

Next thing you know, a car which was going the opposite direction, pulls over and parks in front of our R.V. The fella asks if he can help. We inquire about the campground. He tells us he is an RV'er, he lives in the area, and he does in fact know where the campground we are looking for is located. He gives us the directions to the entrance, which is two turns and five miles away. Looks very simple. Turns out the guidebook described an old entrance no longer in use.

He looks at our rig with the attached toad and says if we make a wrong turn it will be hard to turn around. He then insists we follow him, even though it's in the opposite direction from where ever he had been originally headed. He proceeds to guide us to the entrance, gives us his name and phone number, provides a few restaurant suggestions, then tells us to call him if we have any problems and questions. As hard as it is to believe, this happens regularly.

Another time MLA and I pulled off the Interstate in the evening to fix dinner before continuing our drive. MLA had started a crock pot meal early that morning and by 6 pm both the meal & I were ready to eat. If we were not in the middle of no where, we were at least close enough to throw a rock in to the middle of no where. So we parked in a small bank parking lot that was well lit up and proceeded to have dinner. In less than 5 minutes someone pulls into the lot to ask if we need help finding one of the local campgrounds or a place to eat, etc.

I told him no, and before my mind engaged my mouth was asking him (hopefully not too cynically) if he owned/worked for one of the local campgrounds or restaurants. He simply smiled and said no, he was just checking to see if we need some help. Once we explained we were simply enjoying a quick dinner, he wished us safe travels and was gone.

You hear on TV about how self-centered every one has become and/or about how dangerous it has become 'out there', but that has not been our experience. In fact it's been just the opposite.

Anyhow, one of the best conversation starters with any group of RV'ers is a map. Simply open a map on a picnic table that is within view of several RV'ers and you will soon have a crowd looking over your shoulder, dispensing advice on the best roads to take, the routes with the most scenic beauty, the places to stop for delicious food, special events or sights you must not miss, etc.

It seems even RV'ers who have never been to the destination being discussed feel compelled to share with you their opinion based on what they have read and/or discussed with others. They may not have been to (fill in the blank) but by God they know the best way to get there and the best time of year to visit.

RV'ers are willing to help in any way they can, and of course, as an RV'er, I too am willing to help in any way I can.

After working for 30 years in the computer industry, all I need to find is a fellow RV'er who needs advice on how to attend innumerable conference calls or how to produce huge volumes of PowerPoint presentations that no one really wants to see or wants to know the latest airline flight you can take on a Friday night and still get home before the weekend is entirely over.

Thankfully there are many RV'ers with useful and applicable knowledge that they are more than willing to share, usually wanting nothing more than a "thank you" (and occasionally a cold adult beverage).

Here is the 'Big Picture' I promised earlier.... See Ya!